May 31 CULTURE: Getting your kids to pass out before Happy Hour PART 2: The Rundown On Children’s Parks Below Canal 5.31.17

When it comes to free children’s entertainment, aka playgrounds, nothing beats what we’ve got below Canal Street. As the weather gets warmer, the days get longer, and the kids have more energy (and free time) than ever, we wanted to provide you a rundown of the play spaces downtown that offer fun for the whole family, as well as what you can do nearby before/after. While there’s plenty of adult activities to do at many of these, we’re focusing on the kid-friendly aspects.

In PART 2, we cover the playgrounds in Tribeca and Financial District!

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

If you ever take the time to walk along all the little side streets of FiDi, you’ll find a ton of cute little parks and spaces. There are also a few public parks that we’ve turned to time and time again (and have been tempted to climb on ourselves!).

Right next to South Street Seaport, it’s the perfect spot to let the kids run out their energy before of after lunch at one of the spots on Stone St. Designed to be a transformative space and give the kids a chance to create their own environment, there’s foam blocks, mats, crafts and more to give kids the inspiration they need to change the environment around them. We love this to help address the need for creativity and cooperative play, and that there’s plenty of shaded spots for adults and for taking a break. Nearby Stone St offers a ton of great dining options before and after play, including Fresh Salt and Cowgirl Seahorse, the Seaport offers a Haagen Daaz for a sweet treat, and down the street is a Milk Bar for sweets and Westville for causal, healthy family dining.

This park near the Seaport offers a sand pit, swings, spray fountains in warmer weather, plenty of seating area. Fun fact:The oyster-shaped sand-and-water play space throws back to the former oyster shell heaps that once lined the downtown waterfront. You’re also a literal stone’s throw away from the Seaport and Stone St for dining options.

This gorgeous tree-covered park is perfect for the hotter days when your kids need a little bit of shade. The park includes a community garden, two playgrounds, a great lawn, basketball courts, a tennis court, and a gazebo for hosting events and parties. The park is open from 7am until dusk, seven days a week. The park is also home to events such as concerts, planting days, Ladybug Day, movie nights, a Halloween parade and party, and other seasonal parties throughout the year. The park is over 1.6 acres and offers something for every age. A picnic is always a good idea and where better for a one stop shop than Whole Foods right down the street (Warren St and Greenwich St)

Situated on Pier 25 this playground is a great year-round option but definitely stands out as a winner in the summer. A large water feature area allows kids to cool off in the hot weather with buckets that pour down water, a large water blaster for spraying each other and more. Year round elements include a rock climbing wall, many other climbing structures, swings for all ages and a soft floor making falls less worrisome. It’s a great park for kids of all ages, and with a prime location on the pier surrounded by water it’s a beautiful spot for adults to enjoy too. Not to mention you can always drag your kids to Grand Banks Oyster Boat after if all that playtime makes you thirsty for a cocktail...